The above pictures were taken outside our house the morning of
January 28, 2004. The temperature over night went to -45C with strong
winds bringing the wind chill temperature to -55C. At this temperature
exposed skin will freeze in less than 30 seconds. An exposed Chameleon
would be dead in just seconds.

Freak Storms can Kill!

Of course nobody would let a Chameleon go outside in
temperatures like this however there are a number of considerations for cold
weather survival for your Chameleon. One is emergency heat. In 1998
there was a huge ice storm in the Canadian Province of Quebec. Ice built
up on power lines and caused the lines to snap. Hundreds of miles of lines
were down and 1.4 million people were without power - some for a week or
more! I know of at least one breeder who lost every single Chameleon in
that storm. A month ago, I sent two Chameleons to a new owner in Quebec
and sadly a prolonged power outage last week killed them both.

Winter Heating

No amount of planning could protect your Chams from a 3 week
power outage but if you live in an extremely cold environment there are a few
things you can do. Make sure you have a few sources of heat. This
will keep you AND your chameleon safe. You should have electric space
heaters, a gas and/or wood fireplace and consider a backup electrical
generator. Never use a bar-b-que or other propane heater inside without
proper ventilation and professional installation - many people have died from
this method of keeping warm.

Pick a small room that you can heat using one or more of your
auxiliary heating methods and close off the rest of the house. Keep a
supply of blankets and warm clothing handy. Have a small emergency cage
ready that can be used to house your Chameleon for short durations and be ready
to move the emergency cage into your heated area. It may seem weird to
have you and your Chams all bundled up in the living room in front of the
fireplace but it could easily save lives.

Winter UV Lighting

In the winter your Cham will have no opportunity to bask
outside. Less light means less vitamin D and poor Calcium
processing. You will need to be sure you are using new UVB 5.0 bulbs and
providing lots of calcium and occasional supplementation with a good
multivitamin that contains D3. Remember that even an expensive Reptisun
5.0 will slowly drop UVB output until it is useless at about 6 months of
age. Sure it's still putting out visible light for years - but no UVB!
Replace your bulbs twice a year.

Preparing for Unexpected Vet trips

A trip to the vet may be necessary in winter months. A few
heat packs and a sturdy cardboard box can be helpful. Put your Chameleon
in a plastic container with a branch to cling to. Place the container
inside a cardboard box packed with news papers and add two 10 hour heat
packs. Seal the box against drafts. Make sure to warm up the car
before you take your Cham outside and keep the trip as short as possible.

Winter Insect Variety

It's nearly impossible to find a variety of insects in the
winter. Even getting live crickets can be hard. Yet without a
variety in prey your Chameleon may start a hunger strike. This is a
natural instinct to prevent your Chameleon from eating too much of one type of
insect and possibly missing out on nutrients it needs.

Make sure to get a good supply of Superworms and use them
sparingly as a treat. I have heard some people have used colored powders
to make crickets look different. Spirella is a green powdered herbal supplement
that is healthy for your Cham and can spice up a plain dull cricket. You
can also try crushed bee pollen to give your cricket an interesting yellow
tinge. You can also order silk worm eggs and raise up a batch of tasty
silk worms as a special treat.

Winter Egg Laying

If you have female Chams, you need to be prepared to get your
laying bucket ready on short notice. When Sam was ready to lay her bucket
was a frozen block of ice in the back yard and it took some scrambling to put
together proper accommodations. Make sure you have a supply of tropical
potting soil in the basement.

Don't think it couldn't happen to you - freak storms, power loss
and severe cold temperatures can affect anyone in Canada, Europe and much of the
USA. Preparation is the key to keeping your Chameleons safe and warm for
the winter.